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Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest is a true equatorial jungle,
inhabited by four Gorilla groups - each led by a silverback
male. It is the richest, most species-diverse forest in
Uganda, as the area is one of the few large expanses of forest
in East Africa where lowland and montane communities merge.
Massive trees are entangled with creepers and parasitic plants
such as mistletoe and orchids. Giant thickets of bamboo thrive
in the humid atmosphere and where sunlight breaks through the
elegant heliconia, or lobster claw, spreads its colourful
petals. Amongst the dense vegetation the Colobus Monkey jumps
from branch to branch, chattering its warning to its fellows
hidden by the foliage. Chimpanzees, in families of 20 or 30,
make the rounds searching for fruit and edible plants.
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The park is located in south western Uganda, covering parts of
Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kibale Districts. It was gazetted in 1991
with an area of 331 sq.km.
It is situated in a hilly countryside
that, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the
boundary, constitute an important water catchment area for many
rivers; supplying the agricultural land of the surrounding region.
At least 120 species of mammal are recorded in one of the richest
ecosystems in Africa including Gorilla, Chimpanzee, and 8 other
species of primate, also Elephant, Bush Pig, Giant Forest Hog,
many species of bats and rodents. No less than 346 species of
birds are listed including rare forest birds, at least 14 species
of snakes, 27 species of frogs and toads, 6 chameleons, 14
lizards, skinks or geckos, and at least 202 species of butterfly.
There are also several endangered species of birds with limited
ranges. This forest is a sanctuary for almost half the world's
population of mountain gorillas; the rarest race of gorilla.
Established as a safe habitat for several families of mountain
gorillas it is now the location of an important scientific
conservation program.
All clients wanting to go Gorilla trekking must obtain a permit,
and the days of just turning up at the Park Office at Buhoma and
hoping there are permits still available are long gone; the
popularity of Gorilla trekking has seen to that. This is not an
issue for Gorilla Trails, as all our clients would have their
permits purchased in advance to ensure no problems with
availability. By booking in advance your itinerary can be
structured to work most effectively around available dates.
Gorilla Trekking starts in the morning with a briefing at the Park
Headquarters about what the days trek will involve and to check
that everyone is well enough to take part. No-one with a cold or
flu or signs of other transmittable illnesses will be allowed to
trek due to the risks posed to the families of Gorillas. After the
initial group briefing you are split into groups of 6 and
introduced to your trek leader. He will speak to you about your
particular group of Gorillas and the etiquette of observing and
photographing Mountain Gorillas. An assortment of vehicles will
then transport the trekking groups to the starting points; this
drive can range from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on the
locations of the Gorilla Groups.
Due to the terrain in Bwindi all of the treks will start off with
a steep (and in many cases slippy!) climb up a hillside and most
people will find the use of a walking stick beneficial to help
with their balance. In 2005 one of the Gorilla Groups tended to
feed and live in the secondary forest, whereas the other two
groups were found in the thicker darker primary forest. As a rule
the groups in the primary forest required longer walks to reach
them, but of course this is constantly changing depending on the
movement and dynamics of the families.
When you get close to the Gorilla you must leave all of your bags
and other luggage and only carry your camera/ video onwards to the
family. This is to stop the Gorilla being spooked by bags and
other extra equipment that has been shown to make them nervous.
After dropping the bags you proceed slowly to the group with your
guide and then spend a wonderful hour (strictly monitored) with
the group. No flash photography is allowed, so your camera must be
carefully checked to ensure the 'no flash' option is selected.
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